Formaggio Kitchen
Milky, stinky, pungent, sharp—it’s all here for the tasting. From black-truffle-studded Piedmontese Robiola to the funkiest of Vermont blues, Formaggio has been slicing up an unrivaled selection of artisanal cheese in Cambridge for the past 40 years. Patient staffers never balk at sample requests, and owners Ihsan and Valerie Gurdal also offer plenty of opportunities to geek out on curds and whey, including tours of the basement aging cave, themed classes, and monthly samplers. Multiple locations. 244 Huron Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138, formaggiokitchen.com.
Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club
The hardest part of a vacation is making sure everyone has a good time. At Ocean Edge, however, that’s never a problem. Looking to work up a sweat? Swing a club or paddle a kayak. Need to entertain the kiddos? Keep ’em busy with kite-making and scavenger hunts. Longing for some time all to yourself? Lounge on the private beach or check into the spa. No matter how you spend your trip, you’ll want to find time at sunset to roast s’mores ’round the beach fire. 2907 Main St., Brewster, MA 02631, oceanedge.com.
Life Time Fitness
Is it a gym or a wellness oasis? Actually, it’s both. In addition to offering the essential yoga and indoor cycling classes, Life Time Fitness lays on the extras: nutrition counseling, weight-loss support, even chiropractic care. Feeling guilty about leaving the tots while taking time for yourself? There are kids’ classes, too, even for infants. Why not send your little one to preschool yoga while you visit the spa? 300 Boylston St., Chestnut Hill, MA 02459, lifetime.life.
Saks Fifth Avenue
Nothing kills a night faster than wearing the same outfit as another guest. The vast selection of eveningwear at Saks, however, makes it easy to avoid that social snafu. If your invite dictates cocktail attire, peruse the flirty styles from Delfi Collective and classic silhouettes from Diane von Furstenberg on the first floor. Dressing for a black-tie gala? Head to the designer boutiques upstairs and choose among Fendi, Valentino, and Prada. Prudential Center, Boston, MA 02199, saksfifthavenue.com.
Sault New England
Owner Philip Saul knows that casual doesn’t have to mean sloppy. To wit: Where else can you try on Japanese selvedge denim in two contemporary, tailored fits? Whether you’re shopping for cheerful printed tees and canvas shorts for your next Cape vacation or fitted button-downs and slim-fit pants for breezy weekends in the city, playing it cool never looked this sharp. 577 Tremont St., Boston, MA 02118, saultne.com.
Boston Paws
You can’t make your dog enjoy getting groomed, but you might be able to trick him into not hating it here. Upon walking in, Fido will be distracted by buckets of treats and chew toys at snout level; by the time he reaches groomer Sarah Sneyd, even the most anxious pooch will be primed for a top-notch wash and cut. 313 Belgrade Ave., Roslindale, MA bostonpaw.com.
Aeronaut
Do you possess a surplus of useless knowledge about obscure summer-camp traditions and the classic Oregon Trail computer game? Seize the opportunity to show off your affinity for random factoids at Aeronaut’s weekly “Indie Trivia” nights. The Somerville taproom taps the fiercest trivia competitors in town to create and host ultra-competitive Tuesday-night quizzes complemented by the ultimate brain food: Aeronaut’s signature hoppy brews. 14 Tyler St. , Somerville, MA aeronautbrewing.com.
Ventuno
Think Nantucket’s fresh catch couldn’t possibly get any fresher? Try pairing it with house-made pappardelle or strozzapreti at Ventuno. Consistently excellent since it opened its doors in 2011, this Italian-inspired eatery continues to wow with hearty from-the-sea entrées such as grilled local dayboat scallops and shrimp with black-truffle salsa. And now with the 2019 opening of sister restaurant Pizzeria Gemelle, the team stands poised to dominate the local pizza game, too. ventunorestaurant.com.
Treatment Training Wellness
Who says massages are just for relaxation? Whether you’re feeling a little sore after a particularly hard-core workout or just coping with everyday aches and pains, the talented technicians at this South End wellness center are here to help with a variety of massage techniques tailored to your needs. Calming music, hot-towel compresses for the face, and a beautiful Himalayan salt lamp all add to the ambiance in the treatment room. 142 Berkeley St., Boston, MA treatmenttrainingwellness.com.
Meredith Bonner, Barneys New York
Bonner is like the fashionable friend you wish you could bring along on every shopping spree: patient; quick with a joke to enliven fitting-room tedium; and known to go great lengths to find the perfect pair of jeans. The best part? Getting whisked away to her cozy office to try on your haul in blissful privacy. Copley Place, Boston, MA barneys.com.
Kashmir Asvaraksh, Hair by Kashmir
She may have mastered the runways of New York Fashion Week, but Kashmir Asvaraksh truly shines while styling a bride’s hair. Asvaraksh’s updos look effortlessly chic (read: not overly stiff with hairspray), while her curls are reminiscent of Old Hollywood. She trains hairstylists around the country, too, so you can dance the night away knowing that she’s expertly pinned and coiffed your locks. 297 Newbury Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, hairbykashmir.com.
Eataly
You know you're close to Eataly's tempting cheese counter when you spot the larger-than-your-face wheels of Parmigiano-Reggiano—and catch a whiff of formaggi in its many forms. Wait in line to sample and buy a wide variety of cheese domestic (Vermont blue) and international (Sicilian ragusano), or pull a wedge from the prewrapped selection. Either way, you won't want to leave without catching a glimpse of the fresh-mozzarella station. 800 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02199, eataly.com.
Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club
Morning begins with coffee on the mansion's water-view terrace, a round of golf, or perhaps a massage at the brand-new spa. For the afternoon, it's standup paddleboarding along the private bay beach. Evening brings cranberry mojitos and painterly sunsets over the Brewster Flats at the recently opened beach bar. All of this without ever leaving your resort? If that doesn't sound like a blissful getaway close to home, we don't know what does. 2907 Main St., Brewster, MA 2631, oceanedge.com.
Ports & Company
Along Route 3, it's the same sad story: shopping plaza after shopping plaza, each offering a slightly different version of the pants you've seen on every one of your coworkers. Break away from the crowd with a stop at this under-the-radar Cohasset storefront, which packs AG jeans, Nicole Miller dresses, cashmere sweaters, and other individualistic pieces onto shelf and rack. 23 S. Main St., Cohasset, MA 02025, portsandcompany.com.
Follain
This pore house founded by Babson College grad Tara Foley has dominated the healthy skin-care market of late—and with good reason. It features environmentally friendly products from more than 30 U.S. brands, like Indie Lee's cleansers and oils and Amber Blue's age-defying serums. Meanwhile, a new collection of men's shaving products rounds out the selection of thoroughly researched, wholesome skin saviors. (Multiple locations.) 65 Charles St., Boston, MA 02114, shopfollain.com.